During sintering of cemented carbides, the evolution of the microstructure can be controlled by changing the chemical potentials in the raw material powders, or in the atmosphere. The transport of elements trough the liquid binder phase however differs between elements. In this project we will calculate, using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, the mobility of different elements in the liquid binder. It is furthermore the aim to investigate how interactions between elements affect the diffusion rates.

Properties of the d+id-wave superconducting graphene

This project involves theoretical and numerical modeling of the proposed d+id-wave superconducting state in graphene. Interesting aspects that can be investigated are impurities, domain walls, and vortices.

Spin-orbit coupled impurities in topological insulators

This project involves theoretical and numerical modeling of spin-orbit coupled impurities on the surface of a topological insulator. Special attention will be paid to the magnetic properties of the impurity-induced resonance peaks.

Depositing a superconductor on top of a spin-orbit coupled semiconductor can produce a topological superconductor, which hosts Majorana fermions in vortex cores. This project involves theoretical and numerical modeling of the effects of impurities in these systems.

Theory of ultrafast laser-induced demagnetization

Computational theory of spin thermal transport

Theory and calculations for novel x-ray magnetic spectroscopy

Laser-induced ultrafast spin currents

Our group has recently developed a novel microscopic theory to explain how an ultrashort laser pulse could modify the magnetic system within a few hundred femtoseconds after laser excitation. The purpose of this project is to improve the electron transport description within this model by introducing a new source of electron scattering, which hitherto has been missing, the electron-phonon scattering. Another aim of this project is to develop theory of spin current-induced torques in magnetic materias.

Realistic modelling of superconducting materials

We have recently developed a state-of-the-art computational framework for the realistic modelling of superconductors by combining quantum field theoretical methods with DFT ab initio calculations. Several projects where students can get familiar with this powerful technique are available. These include employing the already developed tools to study superconductors of current interest and/or incorporating and testing new features to the present codes like for example impurity scattering effects.

Hidden order and superconductivity in URu2Si2

Below 17.5K, URu2Si2 exhibits a phase transition into a yet unidentified quantum state, the so-called "hidden order" (HO). The nature of the HO has remained a highly controversial and hot topic in the field of strongly correlated electrons for the last 30 years, despite the immense scientific activity on the subject. Interestingly, while in the HO phase and below 1.5K, URu2Si2 becomes an exotic superconductor. The goal of this project is to study numerically the interplay between superconductivity and different candidate states for the HO. This should bring us a step closer in solving the puzzle of the HO in this material.

Theory of Quasi-Particle Interference (QPI) in multicomponent systems

During the last decade, Quasi-Particle-Interference has emerged as a key experimental technique for the momentum-resolved imaging of quasiparticles in the superconducting state. The goal of this project is to develop a numerically efficient, generalized framework for the simulation of QPI experiments in materials where multiple quantum states of matter (e.g. superconductivity, antiferromagnetism, etc.) coexist.